25 days best of Rwanda and Uganda

Day one: Pick up at the airport and transfer to Kigali. Check in at Golf Hills Residence Hotel; refresh and rest a bit before starting the afternoon Kigali City tour which introduces you the pre-colonial history of the country, colonial and post colonial history and vision 2020 by the Rwanda government.

Day Two: Transfer to Kibuye; en-route visit Nyange Secondary school where students were killed by genociders because they refused to divide themselves based on ethnic groups. Also visit catholic churches that were bull-dozed by the Interehamwe with the support of some priests. Check in at Moriah hotel; refresh and enjoy lunch on the shores of Lake Kivu. Afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on lake Kivu to go visit the Amahoro Island (Peace Island) where thousands of Angolan bat species dominate the clouds then visit Napolean’s Hut Island. Evening; enjoy traditional dinner on the island. Back to the hotel.

Day Three: Transfer to Gisenyi; en-route experience the real rural lifestyle of Rwanda unchanged for centuries. The drive is on a bumpy road but not that bad. It takes 4 hours to arrive in Gisenyi. Enjoy lunch at Kivu – Serena or Parades Marahide Hotel which is more ecofriendly. Optional: afternoon tour of Gisenyi city; the hot springs, fishing village and the solidified lava flow from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Overnight at Kivu Serena hotel or Parades Marahide hotel.

Day Four: Transfer to Ruhengeri. On arrival, check in at Gorilla hotel. Afternoon, visit Kinigi Cultural Village and experience banana and sorghum beer production or visit the traditional healers (ethno botany experience) or bio mimicry experience in Musanze. Overnight in Musanze.

Day Five: Early breakfast at 5:45am then drive to the park headquarters for briefing and registration with the park office. Get orientation for the gorilla family to be visited; drive to the parking area where trekking starts. Spend 1-4 hours trekking but will spend only one hour with the gorillas once you start watching them. After trekking, drive back to the hotel;

Day Six: Transfer to the Uganda via Kisoro; check in at Mgahinga Lodge. Refresh and rest waiting next day’s hiking of Mgahinga volcano.

Day Seven: Hike Mugahinga Mountain with your parked lunch, returning late in the evening for an overnight at Mugahinga Lodge. FB

Day Eight: Leave for Lake Bunyoyi N.P near Kabale in the afternoon, have a boat ride on one of the deepest lakes in Africa. Overnight at Over Land Resort, or Bunyoyi Safari Lodge. FB

Day Nine:
Early morning game drive and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable N.P. Overnight at Gorilla Forest Camp. Full Board.

Day Ten: Early morning breakfast and briefing before entering the thickest Jungles of Bwindi to track gorillas. Overnight at Gorilla Forest Camp. FB

Day Eleven: After your breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo N.P via Mbarara on any route. Lunch in Agip Motel and an overnight at Mantana Tented Camp. Full Board.

Day Twelve: Then early morning, have a game drive and in the afternoon, have a boat ride at Lake Mburo then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.Day Thirteen: Early breakfasts then go for an early game drive in search of the lions, elephants etc then enjoy a boat ride on Kazinga Channel in the afternoon. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge. FB

Day Sixteen: After your early breakfast, briefings from the Park authority then depart through Kibale Forest for Chimpanzee trekking. Proceed to Kasese town, over night at Magharita Hotel.

Day Seventeen:
Leave Kasese, heading to Rwenzori mountain N.P. Take a short hike on the mountain, then return in the evening to Magharita Hotel for an overnight. FB

Day Eighteen: Transfer via Kampala to Budongo Forest with picnic lunch. On arrival, Optional: Take a short nature walk before proceeding to Masidi for an overnight at Masidi Hotel. FBDay Nineteen: Depart to Murchison Falls N.P, with any route game drive, an overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day Twenty: Early morning game drive along Murchison Falls N.P, Lunch at Paraa Safari Lodge; in the afternoon, a boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls. Overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge. FB

Day Twenty one: Drive to Kidepo Valley N.P. Overnight at Apoka Lodge.

Day Twenty Two: Have early morning game drive, searching for Wild life, have lunch at Apoka Lodge. Then visit the Karamonjong communities. Overnight at Apoka Lodge. FB

Day Twenty Three: Depart from Kidepo to Kampala via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, over night at City Royal Resort Hotel in Kampala.Day Twenty Four: Relax in Kampala; City tour, shopping etc. Overnight at City Royal Hotel in Kampala Central.